Nico Rosberg has warned Lewis Hamilton that Max Verstappen is coming for his Formula One information – and predicted the Red Bull driver is on the cusp of a decade of dominance.
Verstappen, who turned 25 on Friday, could have his first shot at sealing back-to-back world championships at Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix – with 5 of the 22-round marketing campaign nonetheless remaining.
Verstappen will likely be topped champion if he wins and units the quickest lap, and team-mate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc end decrease than fourth and eighth respectively.
Hamilton, who was controversially denied an unprecedented eighth crown finally 12 months’s finale, holds the report of most wins (103) and, alongside Michael Schumacher, has a report seven titles.
But Verstappen’s subsequent race win will take him to 32, sixth on the all-time checklist alongside Fernando Alonso.
And Rosberg, chatting with the PA information company, mentioned: “With his skill and the way Red Bull are going at the moment, it is not out of the question that Max could get near Lewis’ records.
“Max was incredible last year, and he has continued that form this season. He has removed the errors that he had in the beginning of his career, and he has dialled back on the overly aggressive moments, too.
“It is a similar process that Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna went through in their early careers when they started fighting for championships.
“Together with Lewis, Max is the best driver on the grid. It is going to be an incredible decade for him in the sport.”
Following a serious overhaul within the laws, Hamilton and his inferior Mercedes have been no match for Verstappen this time period.
Hamilton is a staggering 167 factors behind Verstappen and is dealing with the prospect of ending a marketing campaign and not using a win for the primary time in his profession.
Hamilton is 38 in January, and his £40million-a-year take care of Mercedes is because of expire on the finish of subsequent season.
But Rosberg believes Hamilton’s barren run will present trigger for him to proceed, fairly than result in him hanging up his helmet.
“When I look at how motivated Lewis is – and I am hearing that from people within Mercedes – that is special because it is so easy for someone like that with so much success to say, ‘what the hell, I cannot be bothered anymore’,” he mentioned.
“But he is so engaged by what he is doing – not because of retirement that he wants to avoid but because of the new challenge and the dream of getting that eighth title and the belief that Mercedes can take him there, which they can.
“Does it surprise me? After winning seven titles and so many years in the sport with so much money in the bank account, the fact he would still have that motivation wouldn’t necessarily be expected.
“But driving-wise, he is as on it as ever. Fernando is 41, and at moments this year he has been at his best. Only the most special talents are able to do it, so who knows how much longer Lewis can go on? Maybe we can enjoy him being in F1 for many more years.”
Rosberg, 37, retired from F1 inside days of beating long-term rival Hamilton to the 2016 title.
His rivalry with Hamilton has now moved to Extreme E with each males proudly owning groups within the off-road electrical collection which highlights environmental points at venues the world over. Each driver line-up should additionally consist of 1 male and one feminine.
“To be fighting Lewis year in, year out is super-cool,” mentioned Rosberg, whose workforce are heading in the right direction to defend the title they received final 12 months.
“He is really interested and hands-on behind the scenes. I am involved because this combines my passion for racing, sustainability and equality. I enjoy using the platform to push those topics.”
The Extreme E season concludes in Uruguay on November 27.
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk